Ligonier Borough to receive award recognizing its scenic appeal
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Ligonier Borough’s scenic appeals include its reconstructed 18th- century fort and its green spaces — in particular, its central Diamond Park and iconic bandstand.
Because of those attractive assets, nonprofit Scenic Pittsburgh is set to present its Community Scenic Achievement Award to the borough on Saturday.
The award is given to a Southwestern Pennsylvania community that has demonstrated “a consistent, long-term and visionary commitment to protecting and promoting their scenic resources.”
The award ceremony, set for 12:30 p.m. at the bandstand, is open to the public.
“Ligonier has long been known as a scenic town, and they’ve worked hard to preserve what makes them unique — as well as being a leader in using their history as an asset for economic development in the area,” said Michael Dawida, Scenic Pittsburgh’s executive director.
Mayor Ormond “Butch” Bellas said he’s “pleased that Ligonier is being recognized for its beauty.
“Ligonier catches the eye of travelers because of its ‘Hallmark card’ appearance, and once they stop, people find they enjoy our small-town charm.”
In 2019, Ligonier was ranked fourth in a list of the Top 25 “Hallmark” Christmas Towns, released by Reservations.com. Ranked behind Jackson, Wyo., Telluride, Colo., and Park City, Utah, the borough received particularly high marks for is wintry scenery, friendliness and small businesses.
Ligonier is one of the most well-recognized and sought-after visitor destinations in Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region, according to Anna Weltz, director of public relations for GO Laurel Highlands, the official destination marketing organization for Westmoreland, Fayette and Somerset counties.
“Visitors to the Laurel Highlands often compare Ligonier to a Norman Rockwell painting or the fictional Star’s Hollow from ‘Gilmore Girls,’ which goes to show that Ligonier’s charm transcends generations, and will for more to come,” said Weltz.
Earlier this year, Scenic Pittsburgh gave a scenic achievement award to Indovina Associates Architects, in a ceremony at The Highline on Pittsburgh’s South Side.
“Our motto is that beauty is good for business, and I think the leaders of Ligonier and Indovina Associates Architects understand that principle — and it shows,” said Dawida.
The award Ligonier will receive is crafted by glass artist William Haynes at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. Representing the region’s historic steel and glass industries, it features a wrought metal stand as well as green and blue glass in a pattern meant to evoke the area’s mountains and rivers.